The School of Computer Science and Statistics in Dublin, Ireland, has begun investigating how much user data iOS and Android send to Apple and Google, respectively. Overall, they discovered that, even when the devices are …
March 31,2021 report The School of Computer Science and Statistics in Dublin, Ireland, has begun investigating how much user data iOS and Android send to Apple and Google, respectively. Overall, they discovered that, even when the devices are idle or minimally configured, each tends to share an average of 4.5 minutes’ worth of data every day. For instance, Apple and Google both receive the devices’ IMEI, hardware serial number, SIM serial number and IMSI, handset phone number and other items. Moreover, Android and iOS continue to transmit telemetry to their manufacturing companies, even if the user specifically opts not to share this data. In fact, as soon as the user inserts a SIM card into either device, corresponding user data beacons out to the parent companies of each. Meanwhile, users have no way to avoid iOS devices sharing with Apple the MAC addresses of nearby devices—such as other handsets or home gateway—as well as GPS location.
